IMF chief arrive in Nigeria for talk with Buhari

Mrs. Lagarde on her arrival at the Nnamdi Aziklwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday. Photo: Nduka Chiejina

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Christine Lagarde, yesterday arrived in Nigeria on a four-day official visit.

Ms.  Lagarde’s private aircraft touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,  some minutes before 3pm.

At the airport to receive her, among other dignitaries, were Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. She went  into a brief close-door meeting with the Nigerian team.  Thereafter she was driven out of the airport in a convoy.

Ms. Lagarde will engage with policy makers and other stakeholders to underline the IMF’s strong relationship with its African member countries. The visit  would provide the IMF an opportunity to strengthen its partnership with Nigeria, the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Abuja, Ms. Lagarde will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and other senior government officials, along with business leaders, prominent women, and representatives of civil society groups. She will also meet with the legislators.

She said: “I look forward to productive meetings with President Buhari and his colleagues as they address important economic challenges, most importantly the impact of low oil prices.

“Nigeria is working hard to improve its business environment, promote opportunities for growth in the private sector, and strengthen social cohesion in all areas where the government has an important role to play.”

Ms. Lagarde would leave the country on Thursday for Cameroon, where she would meet President Paul Biya and his economic team, as well as private sector executives, women leaders, and other members of the Cameroonian society.

She is expected also to meet with Finance Ministers from the six member countries of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), delivering a speech to the group on January the eight.